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What a difference a week makes.
i want to start by saying this might be a long story, surely i wont get through it all. Part of me doesn't want to share but I know He would want me to tell everyone. Some of the details I will omit, but I'll try to stick with a linear story-line.
Last weekend i had the most profound experience I could have ever thought I would have had. I went on an Emmaus walk, and for those not familiar with this term, it is similiar to undertaking a spiritual retreat. I'll start by saying that I havent exactly been the most religious up to this point in my life. To put it mildly, I've been running away from God all my life, I just finally took the time to understand that He is always going to run me down and i just need to stop.
Anyway, the feeling of overwhelming love and the grace of God humbled me to my core. All this time, from my wife, the kids, my friends, my job, family...God has been with me all this time. i thought at times He had not listened, that He was not in my heart, that He worked for those that didn't deserve his Grace...all this time, He had been there. through the times we had trouble with adoption and not having kids (we have 3!), to our job stress, to financial difficulties, He was there, and even better, what floors me even know, is that i had so many people that loved us and prayed for us ALL THIS TIME. Pretty amazing stuff!
So at the altar of the church i let all my sin, my anger, my hangups, my baggage. i let all that go. I didn't deserve God's Grace, but he gives to all of us freely, we just have to stop running and accept Him.
Anyway, some of my old habits seem somewhat trivial now(and embarassing--see Daddy Dice room), the statman persona--and you know it has been at work to be the well-oiled maching it is know--all seems immature and inconsequential. There's no point in poking fun at people when all you want to do is tell them about the Grace of God. There's no point in talking about secular hangups when all i want to do is read my daily devotions.
So, I've made a decision, I intend to be who I am, regardless of who it turns off. I will frequent the board as usual, just not in the same manner. I intend to start an OFC-ers for Christ Social Group. What better way to become a disciple by binding the hearts and minds and spreading His Grace, especially with those that love softball as much as I do.
Thanks for taking the time to read this thread. Didn't think you'd be hearing it from me, did you? Neither did I.
God Bless everyone!
Thanks, Ricky and moderators for letting me have the voice and a place to feel safe enough to tell people how you really feel.
Ray Cordova
Men's Walk to Emmaus #59
Table of Mark
i want to start by saying this might be a long story, surely i wont get through it all. Part of me doesn't want to share but I know He would want me to tell everyone. Some of the details I will omit, but I'll try to stick with a linear story-line.
Last weekend i had the most profound experience I could have ever thought I would have had. I went on an Emmaus walk, and for those not familiar with this term, it is similiar to undertaking a spiritual retreat. I'll start by saying that I havent exactly been the most religious up to this point in my life. To put it mildly, I've been running away from God all my life, I just finally took the time to understand that He is always going to run me down and i just need to stop.
Anyway, the feeling of overwhelming love and the grace of God humbled me to my core. All this time, from my wife, the kids, my friends, my job, family...God has been with me all this time. i thought at times He had not listened, that He was not in my heart, that He worked for those that didn't deserve his Grace...all this time, He had been there. through the times we had trouble with adoption and not having kids (we have 3!), to our job stress, to financial difficulties, He was there, and even better, what floors me even know, is that i had so many people that loved us and prayed for us ALL THIS TIME. Pretty amazing stuff!
So at the altar of the church i let all my sin, my anger, my hangups, my baggage. i let all that go. I didn't deserve God's Grace, but he gives to all of us freely, we just have to stop running and accept Him.
Anyway, some of my old habits seem somewhat trivial now(and embarassing--see Daddy Dice room), the statman persona--and you know it has been at work to be the well-oiled maching it is know--all seems immature and inconsequential. There's no point in poking fun at people when all you want to do is tell them about the Grace of God. There's no point in talking about secular hangups when all i want to do is read my daily devotions.
So, I've made a decision, I intend to be who I am, regardless of who it turns off. I will frequent the board as usual, just not in the same manner. I intend to start an OFC-ers for Christ Social Group. What better way to become a disciple by binding the hearts and minds and spreading His Grace, especially with those that love softball as much as I do.
Thanks for taking the time to read this thread. Didn't think you'd be hearing it from me, did you? Neither did I.
God Bless everyone!
Thanks, Ricky and moderators for letting me have the voice and a place to feel safe enough to tell people how you really feel.
Ray Cordova
Men's Walk to Emmaus #59
Table of Mark
